Healthcare

Phase 5 – ENT Treatment Centre

Project Description

UCLH Phase 5, the new Royal National ENT & Eastman Dental Hospital is a world-leading centre for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the ear, nose, throat and mouth including dental, hearing, speech and balance services.

Phase 5 is co-located with other UCLH medical services, providing a more integrated and convenient clinical campus service for the local community, representing an important element of the continuing strategic development of the estate and following on from the Phase 3 Macmillan Cancer Centre, for which BMJ was lead technical advisor and Phase 4 Proton Beam Therapy developments. The new building will accommodate ambulatory and day-case services of the Eastman Dental Hospital and the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital.

Client

University College London Hospital

The Challenge

The development, to be undertaken on a very long and narrow inner city site, had to provide a more integrated and clinical campus service to the local community, set in and around the Bloomsbury and Fitzroy Conservation Areas. A high quality architectural approach was required to meet town planning requirements.

The Solution

The project makes optimal use of a constricted inner-city site in the London’s busy Fitzrovia District, providing clinical facilities in six floors of consulting spaces above ground, and three lower ground floors containing procedure rooms, MRI and CT scanning suites, staff accommodation and plant.

Clinical
The concept proposal was to maximise the clinical provision with an onstage/offstage clinical layout, improving the patient & staff experience. The long, narrow footprint was approached through functional zoning to maximise the efficiency of the floor plate which was split into three horizontal bands: front public – waiting reception; mid – clinical accommodation; rear – service – staff, utilities, stores, FM. The main outpatients accommodation was above ground with MRI, Imaging facilities and Procedures in the multi-level basement. The main reception and waiting is on ground floor with inspirational artwork, café and high quality interiors providing a pleasant and calming environment for patients. BMJ developed all the internal clinical spaces from RIBA Stage 4.

Façade
The site is within the Bloomsbury Conservation Area and Camden Planning were very involved to ensure the architecture was in keeping with the environs. A high quality architectural approach was required. Pilbrow & Partners developed the concept design for the façade to RIBA Stage 4 at which stage BMJ Architects developed the proposals to completion. The building’s architectural style adopts a modern take on the civic tradition: Oriel bays, decorative brickwork, stone dressings and string courses echo the playfulness of nearby Edwardian buildings.

Innovation

Working collaboratively with Mace and their specialist sub-contractors BMJ Architects were instrumental in transforming the façade proposals from a traditional construction method to an offsite pre-cast unitized solution. The complete façade was erected with 248 pre-fabricated bays complete with pre-cast concrete, bricks, curtain walling bay windows and perforated brick panels – a true challenge given the competing tolerances! This method of construction was the only way to ensure programme was maintained.

BIM Level 2

UCLH are a pioneering Trust with a well-developed series of documents for their BIM Level 2 requirements. BMJ Architects worked closely with all parties to make sure the data and outputs were understood and successfully delivered.